Elastically held guitar pick

ABSTRACT

A guitar pick conformed to fit about the finger of a user and be maintained in operative position thereon by a communicating elastic band extending about the finger. The design may be adapted for use with either a finger digit pick or a thumb pick. A species of thumb pick allows the use of a releasably held flat planar pick element of traditional design. The finger pick has no side structure to interfere with normal playing manipulations.

United States Patent Chenette Mar. 14, 1972 [54] ELASTICALLY HELD GUITARPICK [72] Inventor: John E. Chenette, 390 N.E. 7th Street,

East Wenatchee, Wash. 9880] [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [2i] Appl. No.:75,535

[52] US. Cl ..84/322 [51] Int. ..Gl0d 3/16 [58] Field ofSearch ..84/320,321, 322

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,57l 6/1936 Dopyera..84/322 584.653 6/1897 Sivils ..84/322 l,557,476 l0/i925 Kimball et al..84/322 1 263,740 4/1918 Burdwise ..84/322 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 583,275 1924 France ..84/322 Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Keith S. Bergman'1] ABSTRACT A guitar pick conformed to fit about the finger of a userand be maintained in operative position thereon by a communicatingelastic band extending about the finger. The design may be adapted foruse with either a finger digit pick or a thumb pick. A species of thumbpick allows the use of a releasably held flat planar pick element oftraditional design. The finger pick has no side structure to interferewith normal playing manipulations.

6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PMENTEBMAR 14 I972 3, 648 558 SHEET 1 or 2f FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 PAIENTEBMAR 14 I972 3, 648 5S8 SHEET 2 0F 2FIGURE 10 FIGURE 12 ATTORNEY ELASTICALLY HELD GUITAR PICK BACKGROUND OFINVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally topicks for stringed instruments and more particularly to a finger-typeguitar pick maintained in place by an elastic band.

2. Description of Prior Art Several stringed instruments such as theguitar are commonly played by rigid or semirigid mechanical picks. Theform of such pick to provide proper musical tone and manipulability hasevolved to a reasonably small, acutely configured element adapted formanual manipulation. Undoubtedly the most common present day commercialform of such pick is a triangularly shaped, relatively thin sheet ofsemirigid material such as plastic, of small size adapted to bemanipulated by the finger tips of the user.

This type of pick is difficult to hold, requiring constant manipulationof the fingers for positional maintenance, and it may be easilydisplaced or lost during the playing operation. In response to thisproblem, various forms of finger picks directly held on a finger orhaving elements to aid their maintenance thereon have come to be knownand quite extensively used. This instant invention seeks to provide animproved member of such class offinger picks.

The finger picks heretofore known have generally provided either anelement fitting completely about the finger in the form of a ringlikeband or have been formed of some rigid or semirigid material which byreason of configuration or slight deformity has maintained the pick onthe finger. The form of pick required for thumb support as opposed todigital support obviously is different by reason of the habitual modesof playing but finger supported devices have come to be known for eachform of pick. The band-type pick has found disadvantage in providingstructure on the sides of the fingers which tends to interfere withplaying and cause unwanted sounds and motions, especially if pluralpicks be used on one hand in adjacency. Other forms of rigid, conformedor deformable picks that have not provided side elements, generally havenot provided a firm and positive support on the finger and have provennot to be much better than the ordinary flat triangular pick, if in factas effective. Both types of prior art picks have generally provenuncomfortable in use, especially in extended use, and oftentimes havenot produced the same tone as obtainable with the flat guitar pick byreason of their different mode of manipulation, their different tonalreaction, their different structure, or whatever.

The instant invention differs from this art in providing a finger pickconformed for a nondeformable support about the finger and held in placeby an elastically resilient band communicating between a part of thepick and the finger upon which it is supported to provide a positive,readily releasable positioning of the pick upon the finger. The designis applicable to either a thumb or digital pick and the thumb formallows the use of a releasably held triangular pick of the habituallyfamiliar form if desired. The finger pick allows strumming and playingfrom either side of the pick element.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION My invention provides a pick having a larger bodyportion configured to fit about the pad of a finger with a tip portioncarrying finger supports extending over the nail of the finger tomaintain the whole structure about the end portion of the finger.

The rearward part of the body provides a fastening element with pluralspaced fastening catches adapted to adjustably hold an elasticallyresilient band or its parts. This fastening band is provided with amedial slit for a distance to divide a portion into two separableelements still configured as a band. To fasten the pick on a finger, itis placed thereabout with the fastening band extending from thefastening element over the opposite side of the finger. Either or bothof the slit band elements may be attached to the fastening member.

In the digital form of my invention a pick is formed at the juncture ofthe body and finger supports with a configuration that allows pickingmotion from either side. In the thumb form of my invention, a pickportion is angularly disposed on the body to project at to the axis ofthe thumb to allow picking in the traditionally familiar manner. Ifdesired, the body of the thumb pick may be formed to releasably accept atraditional triangular guitar pick and operatively maintain it.

In providing such a device it is a principal object of my invention toprovide a guitar pick for either thumb or digital use that is conformedto fit about a particular finger and be maintained in appropriateposition by an elastically resilient band passing from the guitar pickabout the finger.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device that isadjustably positionable on the finger for comfortable use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a guitar pick of thisform for use on the thumb that will accept the traditional triangularpick heretofore known and releasably maintain it for use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a device thatis of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple andeconomic manufacture and otherwise well adapted to the uses and purposesfor which it s intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Incarrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to beunderstood that its accidental features are susceptible of change indesign and structural arrangement with only one preferred and practicalembodiment being illustrated in the drawings as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form apart of this specification, and wherein like numbers of reference referto similar parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an isometric phantom view of the thumb form of my pick inplace upon the thumb of a user.

FIG. 2 is an isometric back view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the pick of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic back view of the pick of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic back view of a species of thumb pick adaptedfor use with a releasably positionable fiat, triangular pick.

FIG. 6 is a back view of the device of FIG. 5 with a pick in operativeposition.

FIG. 7 is an orthographic side view of the device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the digital form of my guitar pick inplace upon the index finger of the hand.

FIG. 9 is an isometric back view of the device of FIG. 8 removed fromthe finger.

FIG. 10 is an orthographic back view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an orthographic side view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is an orthographic back view of a species of finger pick havinga fastening element that does not provide for adjustment.

FIG. 13 is an orthographic side view of the pick of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inmore detail and especially to those of FIGS. 2 and 9 it will be seenthat my invention generally comprises medial body 15 structurallysupporting pick element 16, finger supports 17 and fastening element 18configured to accept elastic fastener 19 for extension about a fingerwhen the whole be operatively positioned.

Body 15 includes sheetlike element 20 conformed for a nice fit about thepad of a particular finger and of a real extent somewhat comparable tothat of the finger pad. Medial hole 21 is convenient in using the deviceto aid in properly maintaining it in position, and in the thumb modelwith releasable pick to aid in maintaining the pick in proper position.The

body is formed from some semirigid material such as plastic or aluminumthat is easily formable and yet sufficiently rigid but resilientlydeformable to serve its purpose. If the pick be used with an electricguitar preferably it is formed of electrically nonconductive material.

Periphery 22 of body 15, in its outer portion (with reference to fingerposition) supports paired cooperating finger supports 17, providingcooperating bandlike elements 26 conformed to fit nicely over the end ofa finger and extend somewhat back upon the fingernail to, in cooperationwith the body element, support the pick about the end of the finger of auser. The exact dimensioning of band elements 26 is not critical butthat illustrated in the drawings has been found to be quitesatisfactory. These elements again are preferably formed from materialsimilar to that of the body and for the same reasons. Normally elements26 are formed as an integral part of body but if desired they may bestructurally joined thereafter.

Pick element 16 projects outwardly from the body 15. In the thumb specieof pick illustrated in FIGS. 1, et seq., the pick element constitutestriangular projection 23, formed as an integral part of body 15. Theconfiguration of this projection preferably conforms with the common,habitually familiar, planar guitar pick and its projection away from thebody preferably is such that when the body of my pick be positioned onthe finger, it will project about the same distance as that habituallyfamiliar.

The pick element of the digital specie of my invention is illustrated inFIGS. 8, et seq. It is positioned approximately 90 angularly from thepick element of the thumb species to allow operation in the habituallyfamiliar fashion as the thumb is normally held substantially parallel tothe strings in picking and a finger is held substantially perpendicularthereto. The digit form of pick provides a small protuberance withrounding point 24 and similar, substantially parallel sides 25 formed inthe fashion illustrated, particularly in FIGS. 10, ll, 12, and 13 sothat the pick may be used to operate in either direction perpendicularto its broader surfaces or may be used in strumming. For these reasonsthe exact configuration of the surfaces is somewhat critical as thedevice is not particularly operative unless they be formed substantiallyas illustrated.

A specie of thumb pick that makes use ofa seperable planar pick element,such as that known in present day commerce is illustrated in thedrawings of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. Here the body is provided with aplurality of peripheral pick catches 27 overturned with properdimensioning to hold the periphery of a normal pick therebeneath. Thenumber and positioning of pick catches obviously might vary but theconfiguration shown has been found to be most operative. Planar pick 28is inserted under the catches and maintained in operative position asI]- lustrated in FIG. 6, between them and pick body. It is further to benoted that the pick will be maintained between the body element and thethumb to further aid in maintaining position.

Fastening element 18 provides shaped, sheetlike member 29 structurallycommunicating with periphery 22 of body 15 opposite the pick in thedigital form and 90 from the pick in the thumb form. The membercomfortably fits about the inner surface of the finger for support,preferably terminating at or below the first joint for comfortable use.The fastening member provides at least one fastening notch 30 providingan element that will hold the elastic fastener. Preferably fasteningnotch 30 is a turned-over portion of member 29 and may occur singly orin opposed pairs according to preference. The form of fastening notchillustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 12 provides for no band adjustment, whilethe form illustrated in F IG. 2 and FIG. 9 provides plural notches toallow adjustment. With most mature adult fingers, the averagedimensioning is sufficiently close that the elastic resilience of thefastener will take care of the necessary adjustment and the fasteningelement need not have plural fastening notches 30 unless desired. Toaccommodate a great range of finger sizes with a single unit, however,plural fastening notches may be added to provide adjustment to lessentension on the elastic fasteners for more comfort.

dividing this half into two bands 33 each continuous with the principalband 31. This form gives a little greater versitility as each split band33 may be fastened about different fastening notches 30 to provide aparticular type of fit or one band may be fastened about one notch andthe other may be left about the inner surface of the finger to provide adifferent type of fit.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention its use may beunderstood.

Firstly a pick is formed according to the foregoing specification and ifit be a thumb pick it is placed on the pad side of the thumb asillustrated in FIG. 1 or if it be a digit pick it is placed on theparticular digit pad according to the illustration of FIG. 8. Elasticfastener 19 is then placed about at least one fastening notch 30,slipped over the finger so that it passes around it, and moved upwardlythereon so that there is slight elastic tension in the band, betweenfinger and pick to maintain the guitar pick in proper playing position.The elastically deformable contact between band and finger causeappropriate friction to maintain the band in this position againstnormal playing activity but yet allow ready placement or removal with ordinary digital manipulation.

After the pick is positioned, if it be a thumb pick, it is played in thenormal fashion in which the traditional flat triangular pick is played.It is to be noted, however, that it is positively positioned on thethumb without the possibility of dislodgement and that it might beplayed in either direction as is the case with a traditional pick heldbetween the thumb and adjacent index finger.

The finger pick is placed in similar fashion according to theillustration. With the finger pick it is to be noted that one or moremay be used on any digit or combination of digits. No metal partsproject laterally outwardly on either side to interfere with playing ormake noise if finger picks be used on adjacent digits. It is further tobe noted that from the configuration of the pick element, the digit pickmay be used in either direction of normal motion of the finger and maybe used for strumming if desired, a feature not common to other digitpicks of commerce. This species of pick, like the thumb pick, ispositively maintained on the finger against normal playing displacement.

The species of thumb pick having removable pick element is used in thesame fashion as described except that the auxiliary thumb pick isinserted before the device is placed on the finger.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailednature so that specific embodiments of it might be set forth as requiredbut it is to be understood that various modifications of detail,rearrangement and multiplication of parts might be resorted to withoutdeparting from its spirit, essence, or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect byLetters Patent, and what I claim is:

l. A guitar pick to be elastically held on the finger of a user,comprising, in combination:

a body conformed to fit adjacent the pad of a finger and configured tobe somewhat coextensive therewith;

a pick element, carried by the body, extending from the peripherythereof normally outwardly therefrom;

at least one finger support carried by the body to extend from theperiphery thereof over the end of the carrying finger adjacent thefingernail; and

a fastening element, carried by the periphery of the body opposite thefinger support, configured for a conformable fit against the innersurface of the finger substantially below the first joint and having atleast one fastening notch adapted to hold an elastic band.

2. The inventionzbf claim 1 in combination with:

an elastic band otentially positionable, when the guitar pick is inposit for use on a finger, to extend from the fastening notch o'fthefastening element to and about the finger upon which the guitar pick isheld with some elastic tension to aid in maintaining pick position uponthe finger.

3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

the pick element extending outwardly from the body periphery,substantially perpendicularly to a line through the finger support andfastening element, to adapt the pick for use on the thumb.

4. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

the finger supports having the pick element formed substantially attheir communication with the periphery of body to form a digit pick. 5.The invention of claim 4 further characterized by:

the pick element being symmetrically formed with a pickirifl

1. A guitar pick to be elastically held on the finger of a user,comprising, in combination: a body conformed to fit adjacent the pad ofa finger and configured to be somewhat coextensive therewith; a pickelement, carried by the body, extending from the periphery thereofnormally outwardly therefrom; at least one finger support carried by thebody to extend from the periphery thereof over the end of the carryingfinger adjacent the fingernail; and a fastening element, carried by theperiphery of the body opposite the finger support, configured for aconformable fit against the inner surface of the finger substantiallybelow the first joint and having at least one fastening notch adapted tohold an elastic band.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in combination with:an elastic band potentially positionable, when the guitar pick is inposition for use on a finger, to extend from the fastening notch of thefastening element to and about the finger upon which the guitar pick isheld with some elastic tension to aid in maintaining pick position uponthe finger.
 3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by: thepick element extending outwardly from the body periphery, substantiallyperpendicularly to a line through the finger support and fasteningelement, to adapt the pick for use on the thumb.
 4. The invention ofclaim 1 further characterized by: the finger supports having the pickelement formed substantially at their communication with the peripheryof the body to form a digit pick.
 5. The invention of claim 4 furthercharacterized by: the pick element being symmetrically formed with apicking surface on each side of the pick element for picking in eachdirection of finger joint motion.
 6. The invention of claim 1 furthercharacterized by: the body having plural fastening notches about thebody periphery; and the pick element comprising a separable sheetlike,triangular guitar pick releasably maintained on the body by the pluralfastening notches.